Study Is Testing Cannabis on Children with Aggressive Behaviors

Researchers at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia are conducting a trial to determine the efficacy of medical marijuana for children with intellectual disabilities that lead to aggressive behaviors or self-harm.

Children as young as eight are participating in the study, according to Daily Mail. Depending on the outcome of the study, the results may allow those with these aggressive behaviors to have another option for treatment. Currently, antidepressants and anti-psychotics, which have terrible side effects, are the common course of treatment for aggression disorders.

Lead researcher Professor Daryl Efron said, “It is hell for these kids a lot of the time — they are really aggressive, damaging property, injuring themselves, injuring other people.”

It’s noted that 50% of the participants are using CBD and the other 50% are using a placebo. Two teaspoons of CBD are administered daily for those using CBD.

Dr. Efron said, “I have no doubt medical cannabis has a wide range of application in kids, and particularly for kids with behavioral problems. But we really need to understand which kids it is going to be helpful for, which form of medical cannabis, and which particular symptoms it is going to help with — so we need to do proper studies.”

Preliminary results reveal that the study will have a positive outcome as many of the children are already responding well to the treatment and showing encouraging improvements to behavior.